August 24, 2014

Rookie of the Year: Jim Haslett, 1979

Linebacker, Buffalo
Bills

Age: 24 (Dec.
9)

College: Indiana
(PA)

Height: 6’3” Weight: 232

Prelude:

Haslett
played defensive end and linebacker in college and set school season records
for sacks (20) and fumble recoveries (5). A three-time Little All-American, he
appeared in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game following the 1978 season and was
chosen by the Bills in the second round of the 1979 NFL draft despite his
coming out of a small school. Benefiting from top draft pick Tom Cousineau’s
decision to play in the CFL instead, Haslett moved directly into the starting
lineup at left inside linebacker.

1979 Season Summary

Appeared in all
16 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – N/A

Interceptions
– 2

Most
interceptions, game – 2 at New England 11/25

Int. return
yards – 15

Most int.
return yards, game – 15 (on 2 int.) at New England 11/25

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble
recoveries – 2

Fumble rec.
TDs – 0

Tackles – 124

Awards &
Honors:

NFL Defensive
Rookie of the Year: AP

Bills went 7-9
to finish fourth in the AFC East.

Aftermath:

The Buffalo
defense topped the NFL in 1980 and Haslett continued to be a key player,
especially against the run. Injuries became a factor as the unit went into
decline and Haslett himself was limited to five games in 1983, but he continued
to be a steady performer who regularly was among the team’s leaders in tackles.
A broken leg suffered in Buffalo’s final preseason game cost him the ’86 season
and, while he saw some action with the Jets in 1987, his career was effectively
finished. Overall, he appeared in 94 games over eight seasons, and started 86
of them. He went on to a coaching career that included head coaching stints
with the New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams (interim) in the NFL and the
Florida Tuskers of the United Football League.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized
organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise
Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league
itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).